A lot of pressure rides on the bachelorette party: It’s a celebration filled with fun games, booze, and lots of girl bonding. And as the last “fling before the ring” for the bride, it’s crucial that this weekend is one that goes down in the party-planning hall of fame. But if you’re the one planning the soiree (hello, maid of honor), there’s no doubt that you’ve looked at the cost of everything and maybe given an exasperated sigh or two.
It may seem impossible to ball on a budget, especially when you’re taking upwards of 10 to 15 other girl’s budgets into consideration. But luckily, we’ve got tons of cheap bachelorette party ideas that will help you trim the overall cost of the party–and still make it amazing. It’s time to celebrate the bride without breaking the bank. (Who says you can’t have champagne taste on a malt liquor budget?)
Cheap Bachelorette Party Ideas:
Pick a Drive-able Location
The best way to save money on transportation is to pick a bachelorette location that’s within driving distance for most of the guests. It’s estimated that you could be saving anywhere from $200-$500 per person when you opt into driving rather than flying!
Aside from saving you money, driving means you don’t have to be limited to just one checked bag! Plus, you can pack snacks and you don’t have to deal with the anxiety of missing your flight or sitting on an over-crowded aircraft.
Stay at a Friend’s House
After transportation, accommodations will be your next largest cost. It can be tricky finding an Airbnb that fits everyone or coordinating who will sleep in which hotel room. If there’s someone in the party that is down to host the festivities at their house or lake house, take them up on the offer!
Skipping the hotel or rental will save you tons–and you won’t be bogged down by all those hidden fees. The money you’re saving on housing can be put towards decorations and party favors that will really transform the house.
Keep the Coordinated Bachelorette Outfits Simple
While those kitschy, “final fiesta” tank tops may be a fun way to honor the bride, they can also drain your wallet quickly. Keep in mind that there may be members of the bridal party that aren’t able to shell out $20 for a tank top that they’ll likely only wear once.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t coordinate! Instead of purchasing customized tops, consider giving everyone one color to wear out, and have the bride another color. This is a great way to allow the bride to stand out, and still keep everyone’s budget in mind.
Of course, a popular option is to have the bride wear white while the rest of the party wears black. But feel free to get creative! Maybe the bride wants everyone to wear cocktail dresses in her favorite color, or outfits in the color of her bridesmaids’ dresses.
Plan Some At-Home Meals
Planning even one homemade meal will save you tons of money on expensive restaurant prices. Splitting the food and drinks between all of the party members can amount to $50 total or less, an amount that you’d likely spend in one sitting at a restaurant.
Planning and making a nice dinner or breakfast buffet with the other girls can be a great way to bond, get to know each other, and create some memories. Plus, this doubles as an (almost) free activity to do together!
Find Some Free (or Cheap) Activities
Carve out some of the weekend’s schedule to include a few free activities for everyone. Contrary to popular belief, there are tons of free activities to do during a bachelorette weekend, especially if it’s hosted in the summer or early fall.
Some cheap examples to incorporate into your itinerary include beach days, hikes, bachelorette party games, an at-home spa day, farmers markets, coffee houses, small outdoor concerts, cornhole and land game competitions, and picnic afternoons. A great place to start is with the city’s event calendar!
Host a Bachelorette Slumber Party
When’s the last time you and your besties got together for a sleepover? We’re talking pajamas, face masks, salty and sweet snacks, and truth or dare. While this bachelorette theme may not include an old-school trip to Blockbuster, it’ll have everything else you remember from those super fun slumber parties you had back in the day.
A sleepover’s another great way to save money but still have a blast with the bride-to-be and her closest friends. Want to make it extra nostalgic? Make it an early-2000’s slumber party theme. Complete with Mary Kate and Ashley movies, Seventeen Magazines, and America’s Next Top Model on repeat.
Are you using any of these cheap bachelorette party ideas? Show us how you’re throwing a budget friendly-bash on Instagram @lulus using #lovelulus–and shop cocktail dresses for the bachelorette and co. in our Weddings Shop!
This post was originally published in September 2021 and has been updated with new content.
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